Garifuna Women Stand Strong in Belize!

Hamanasi Front Desk/Reservations Associate, Gilda Eligio attended a symposium for Garifuna women over the past weekend. The symposium was organized by a Christian Women’s group from Minnesota, Open Doors, led by Anne Hinrichs. The group comes to Belize, specifically the Hopkins and the neighboring Garifuna villages of Seine Bight and GeorgeTown, for the purposes of ministering to women and teens about the role of women in the home, workplace, community and church, and to encourage women to be leaders and examples in all

aspects of the Garifuna life. During their week-long stay, they have daily services at the church or villages to minister to the people.They also organize projects and activities to help restore hope to the less fortunate by refurbishing their homes and painting it or changing old boards to new ones so that the families can be proud. Open Doors also brings “goodies” for the children and school supplies. they walk around the villages and give donations to families that are in

need. Pastor Herdie Castillo from the Hopkins Evangelical Church, Ligilisi Laureni Bungui, goes along with the group and introduces them to local families. Open Doors also follows up with each family to see how they are doing and send supplies, food and clothing to them after returning to Minnesota. The symposium and services were well-attended by the local women with more than 40 regular attendees… and crowds of children when the services are taken to the villages!